"It is a wonderful book! The diagrams
are so clear, clean and distinctive. And there is so
much useful information about origami and making
origami, which is sadly, but necessarily absent from
most origami books." Michael LaFosse

"A wonderful book. The most thoughtful work on origami that I have ever read". Robert Neale

"His work is incredible!" Eric Joisel

"I can think of no-one better suited to write this book!" Robert Lang

"It is the best in many ways." Robert Neale

"I really think this is
destined to be a classic - it's a superb book. Full marks." Edwin Corrie

"The book is a tour de force – congratulations!" Gay Merrill Gross

"well up to your usual fine standard. Keep up the good work!" Jeff Beynon

"My compliments with this superb book!!!
I very much like it, and your humerous touch.
Although I am not a dummy - origamiwise, there is plenty to discover
and to enjoy for me in this book." José Meeusen

It's been a surprise for many people that this is the first O4D book, but I'm not complaining. John Wiley (who publish the dummies imprint) contacted me in summer 07 to see if I'd be interested in writing it. Naturally, I was delighted. I've now received my first copy of this project and hopefully it will be in the shops very soon.

It's the first time the Dummies people (John Wiley) have tackled a craft like this, and it's been a learning process for both of us. The Dummies imprint has a rigorous set of layout styles and I've fought to try and maximise the size of every diagram. I've not been entirely successful, some of the more complex designs are smaller than I'd hoped for, but still hopefully readable. However, it's turned out really well and, biased though I am, reckon it's great value for money. Why "kit"? Because it's got a pack of paper at the back. No, I'm not convinced either ;) I refer to it as O4D and will continue to do so!

It's it truly for dummies? Yes, I feel it is. Some of the designs need no creases, others only one or two. More than half the designs fall into the simple category. Of course, the book needed to incorporate more challenging designs, although there's nothing that comes close to "ultra-complex". I've tried to cover all the major areas of skills and knowledge that a beginner might wish to read about, distilling my experience from the past 25 years of folding and 15 years of writing origami books.

I've been encouraged to employ my dry, subtle Northern wit throughout and the although tone of the book is light, I've tackled the subject in greater depth than usual, covering creativity, diagramming, the School of Ultimate Realism, copyright, morals and so forth. There are even a series of "top tens" to enjoy, styles, creators etc. A set of songs to fold to didn't make it, so here they are anyway!

Auld Robert Lang Syne

Don't Sink Twice, It's All Right

First Time Ever I Saw Your Fish Base

Fold on, I’m Coming

Foldfinger

I Wanna Fold Your Hand

It's Only A Paper Spoon

Pleats Release Me (Let Me Go)

Promised You A Minor Miracle

There’ll Be Crease In The Valley

my proposed cover logo

Inside are several classic folds in print for the first time, including the wonderful "pooping dog". It also includes unpublished designs by David Brill, Marc Kirschenbaum, Robin Glynn, Max Hulme, Ted Norminton, Eric Joisel, Wayne Brown, John Montroll, Robert Lang and many others.

As well as several of my own designs, the book includes the following:

Profound apologies to anyone whose model didn't make the final cut, we simply ran out of pages, even with some diagrams reduced in size a tad too much for my liking. Several of my own designs got the chop, but fingers crossed, they will go in the follow up volume, "More Origami For Dummies ;)

Here are a few selected images of the models on offer in the book. If you decide to buy it, my suggestion would be to order through a local bookshop. Whilst you can save a few quid through the internet, the logical conclusion of huge e-stores undercutting everyone else will be the closure of smaller, local shops. I'd far sooner help them than earn a bit of "click through" revenue. There's also some reviews on Amazon. and on on Gilad Aharoni's site

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Ducks by Nick Robinsonpage 43 (from Square)

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Nick's Fish Base Mask by Nick Robinsonpage 53 (from Square)

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Sailboat by Unknownpage 72 (from Square)

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Flower by Unknownpage 73 (from Square)

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T-Rex Head by Nick Robinsonpage 74 (from Square)

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Bookmark by Nick Robinsonpage 75 (from Square)

3D Star by Rachel Katzpage 77 (from Square)

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Coin Trick by Traditionalpage 79 (from 2x1)

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Japanese Schoolgirl by Nick Robinsonpage 81 (from Square)

Three Crease Head by Paul Jacksonpage 83 (from Square)

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Dunce's Cap by Nick Robinsonpage 84 (from Square)

Miniphant by Mike Dilkespage 87 (from Square)

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Elephant's Head by Nick Robinsonpage 89 (from Square)

Shell by Steven Caseypage 92 (from Square)

Thoki's Butterfly by Thoki Yennpage 96 (from Square)

Boaz's Butterfly by Boaz Shuvalpage 97 (from Square)

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Triplane by Nick Robinsonpage 99 (from Square)

Chick by Kunihiko Kasaharapage 102 (from Square)

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Fishy Sequence by Nick Robinsonpage 105 (from Square)

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Fish by Steven Caseypage 107 (from 2x1)

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Biscuit Packet Closure by Edwin Corriepage 109 (from Shaped)

A Fishy Tale by Michel Grandpage 110 (from Square)

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Fox's Head by Nick Robinson and Wayne Brownpage 112 (from Square)

Envelope by Doris Lauinger and Wayne Brownpage 114 (from Square)

Ali's Dish 2 by Nick Robinsonpage 116 (from Square)

Pureland Figure by Marc Kirschenbaumpage 119 (from Square)

Sailboat Envelope by Michael LaFossepage 121 (from Square)

Dracula by Robin Glynnpage 123 (from Square)

Lazy Winston by Nick Robinsonpage 125 (from Square)

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Hen by Tony O'Harepage 128 (from Square)

Chair by John Montrollpage 131 (from Square)

Jaws Fin by Nick Robinsonpage 135 (from Square)

Boat by Martin Wallpage 137 (from Square)

Container by Nick Robinsonpage 140 (from Square)

Face Envelope by Michel Grandpage 142 (from Square)

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Mystery Object by Nick Robinsonpage 145 (from Square)

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Bluebell by Traditionalpage 147 (from Square)

Shining Heart by Nick Robinsonpage 151 (from Square)

Tulip Bowl by Peter Borcherdspage 153 (from Square)

Little Nicky by Nick Robinsonpage 155 (from Square)

Makotokoma by Makoto Yamaguchipage 157 (from Square)

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Flood Bowl by Nick Robinsonpage 161 (from Square)

Flapping Bird by Traditionalpage 164 (from Square)

Droodle by Nick Robinsonpage 166 (from Square)

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Vase by Gay Merrill Grosspage 168 (from Square)

Hearts by Eric Kennewaypage 172 (from Square)

Lazy Susan by Traditionalpage 175 (from Square)

Four Thirsty Birds by David Listerpage 177 (from Square)

Lovebirds by Robert Nealepage 179 (from 2x1)

Dragonfly by Anita Barbourpage 181 (from Square)

Snail by Robert Langpage 183 (from Square)

For Dummies Man by Nick Robinsonpage 187 (from Square)

Modular Star by Nick Robinsonpage 191 (from Square)

Hexahedron by Nick Robinsonpage 194 (from Square)

Emblem by Edwin Corriepage 196 (from Square)

60-Degree Star by David Pettypage 198 (from Square)

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Gomez Bowl by Nick Robinsonpage 201 (from Square)

Pentagonal Star by David Brillpage 204 (from Square)

Fluted Module by Rocky Jardespage 207 (from Square)

House by Wayne Brownpage 210 (from A format)

Chinese Frog by Traditionalpage 216 (from Square)

Chinese Frog Variation by Roman Diazpage 218 (from Square)

Dragon by Eric Joiselpage 221 (from Square)

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Twist Flower by Yoshihide Momotanipage 224 (from Square)

Twist Decoration by Jeff Beynonpage 226 (from Square)

Four Compartment Box by Philip Shenpage 230 (from Square)

Perro Liberando by Luis Fernandez Perezpage 234 (from Square)

Santa by Ted Normintonpage 238 (from Square)

Aladdin by Max Hulmepage 242 (from Square)

Beetle by Grzegorz Bubniakpage 246 (from Square)

Mouse by Go Guspathpage 249 (from Square)

Here's a review from my local paper, typically focusing on the higher aesthetic aspects of the book.

I've also knocked up, sorry, carefully created, a video
of one of the designs, a paper representation of the Dummies "man", who features on every cover.

Perhaps not an origami masterpiece, but as a "created to order"model, it fits the bill. The video has had over 30,000 views on youtube and has attracted some crude, if hilarious comments! The excellent music you can hear drifting in the background is one of my own pieces - check here for more of my aural delights!